Routh wanted to create a foreign force to protect Taiwan. But some listed volunteers said they'd never heard of him
Ryan Routh had repeatedly called for bolstering Taiwan’s defenses against China and hoped to set up a foreign legion akin to that in Ukraine .
The man, who was detained in connection with an apparent attempt to assassinate former president Donald Trump on Sunday, is listed as an “International Volunteer Center Coordinator” on a website named Taiwan Foreign Legion.
The group claims it is “recruiting former military and civilians from around the world” willing to defend Taiwan in the event of a war with China.
CNN reached out to over a dozen people listed as “supporters” on the group’s website. But several said they had not heard of the group or its activities, and some had never heard of Routh.
All claimed they did not know how their names and contact information had been shared on the pro-Taiwan website.
Unlike Ukraine, Taiwan does not have an official foreign legion. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry declined to comment on Routh.
China’s ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is part of its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary.
The US is bound by law to supply the self-governing island with weapons to defend itself, and support for Taiwan is a rare issue of broadly bipartisan consensus in Washington.
Ryan Routh criticized Trump in his self-published book on the Ukraine war Ryan Wesley Routh decried Donald Trump as an “idiot,” a “buffoon” and a “fool” in his self-published book on the war in Ukraine and geopolitics.
The 58-year-old, who was detained Sunday in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on Trump , wrote last year about his unsuccessful efforts to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia and also weighed in on multiple global crises.
Routh wrote that the former US president’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 was a “tremendous blunder” that drove Tehran closer to Moscow, which it has supplied with drones that have caused devastation across Ukraine.
Routh also gave his opinions on the political situation in Afghanistan, and urged Afghan refugees to fight for Ukraine.
He also wrote about Taiwan, North Korea and Venezuela, drawing comparisons between the authoritarian rule of President Nicolas Maduro and the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.
“We have mirrored (Venezuela’s) devastating events with our own catastrophe on January 6th perpetrated by Donald Trump and his undemocratic posse,” Routh wrote.
Appearing to reference his former support for Trump, Routh wrote that he must take part of the blame for electing him as president, writing: “but I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake.”
How global leaders are reacting to the apparent Trump assassination attempt Leaders around the world are condemning the apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump and offering their support.
Here’s what they’re saying:
Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife Sara were “shocked by the second assassination attempt against President Trump and were relieved to hear that it too failed. But we should not rely on luck,” he said in a post to X , adding that he hopes “all measures will be taken to ensure that such deadly attacks on a candidate for the US presidency will be foiled in advance.”Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed “concern” and said it is “a good thing” Trump is safe. “Everyone wants the democratic process to be peaceful and to be orderly,” he told reporters.Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is glad to hear Trump is “safe and unharmed” in a post on X . This is our principle: the rule of law is paramount and political violence has no place anywhere in the world.”Hungary : Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a longtime Trump supporter, said on X : “It is clear that President Trump’s life is in danger, until his victory.”Here's what we know about the apparent assassination attempt on Trump The FBI said it “is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination ” of Donald Trump at his Florida golf club, just two months after an attempt to kill the Republican presidential nominee at a Pennsylvania rally.
The former president was not harmed.
Ryan Wesley Routh , a 58-year-old owner of a small construction company in Hawaii, has been detained in connection with Sunday’s incident, according to three law enforcement sources.
Here’s what happened:
Gunshots during golf: Trump was moving between holes five and six at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach with donor Steve Witkoff when gunshots went off. The golf game was a last-minute addition to Trump’s schedule, sources said.Secret Service spots a rifle: A Secret Service agent spotted a rifle barrel sticking out of a fence and agents fired at a man in the bushes along the perimeter, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Bradshaw said his office was alerted at 1:30 p.m. ET that the Secret Service had fired gunshots. The person was 300 to 500 yards away from Trump, an official said. The suspect then fled in a car .Witness spots a man in the bushes: A witness saw the suspect run from the bushes and took a picture of his car that led to the suspect’s apprehension.Highway chase: Police flooded Interstate 95 before stopping the suspect’s car and detaining him. The suspect was not armed when law enforcement officials took him out of the car, and he has not made any statements. The person in custody is Routh , according to three law enforcement sources.Evidence found in bushes: Law enforcement officials found an AK-47-style rifle with a scope; two backpacks that had ceramic tiles in them to augment a bulletproof vest; and a GoPro where the suspect was positioned. “This whole set-up indicates a very high level of pre-planning,” former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe told CNN .Mental health assessment: Investigators expect a federal court in South Florida will require “a mental health assessment” of Routh before any possible criminal proceedings, a law enforcement source told CNN .
Man detained in apparent assassination attempt was strong supporter of Ukraine Ryan Wesley Routh , who authorities suspect was planning to attack former President Donald Trump as he played a round of golf, was a staunch supporter of Ukraine and visited the country in 2022.
Routh traveled to Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor more than two years ago, according to video and images geolocated by CNN to Kyiv’s Independence Square, as well as interviews with foreign press .
Video shows Routh attended a rally at the square in support of Ukrainian troops on May 1, 2022, and visited the same location about six weeks later, where a photo shows him standing beside a Ukraine flag emblazoned with an appeal for international volunteers to support the war effort
In an April 2022 video by AFP in Kyiv, Routh called Putin a “terrorist” and said “he needs to be ended.”
“We need everybody from around the globe to stop what they’re doing and come here now and support the Ukrainians to end this war,” Routh said.
A representative from Ukraine’s foreign legion told CNN that Routh had contacted them several times but that he was never part of the military unit in which overseas volunteers fight.
Routh also expressed support for Ukraine on social media. In dozens of posts on X in 2022, he said he was willing to die in the fight and that “we need to burn the Kremlin to the ground.”
“I AM WILLING TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER AND FIGHT AND DIE…Can I be the example We must win,” Routh said in an X post in March 2022.
Routh then used Facebook to encourage foreigners to fight in the war. He tried to enlist Afghan conscripts in a flurry of posts, beginning in October 2023, presenting himself as an off-the-books liaison for the Ukrainian government.
“Afghan Soldiers- Ukraine is somewhat interested in 3000 soldiers, so I need every soldier that has a passport to send me a copy of their passport to send to Ukraine,” he wrote in one such post, which was published in English and Pashto.
This post has been updated with more information on Routh’s time in Ukraine.
A representative from Ukraine’s foreign legion confirmed with CNN that Ryan Wesley Routh had contacted them several times but said he was never part of the military unit in which overseas volunteers fight.
“We can confirm this person reached out to us online multiple times,” Oleksandr Shaguri, an officer of the Foreigners Coordination Department of the Land Forces Command, told CNN over the phone.
Shaguri said “the best way to describe his messages is — delusional ideas.”
“He was offering us large numbers of recruits from different countries but it was obvious to us his offers were not realistic. We didn’t even answer, there was nothing to answer to. He was never part of the Legion and didn’t cooperate with us in any way.”
Routh expressed support for Ukraine in dozens of X posts in 2022, saying he was willing to die in the fight and that “we need to burn the Kremlin to the ground.”
He also visited Ukraine in 2022, according to video and photos geolocated by CNN as well as media interviews he gave while there.
Routh then used his Facebook account last year to encourage foreigners to fight in the war. He tried to enlist Afghan conscripts in a flurry of posts, beginning in October 2023, presenting himself as an off-the-books liaison for the Ukrainian government.
Newsweek Romania journalist Remus Cernea, who met the man detained in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Ukraine on several occasions, told CNN he was surprised by Ryan Routh ’s involvement in the incident.
“For me, it’s a surprise because I viewed him as an idealistic innocent genuine person, without any murderous instinct,” Cernea said.
Cernea first met Routh in Kyiv’s Independence Square in June of 2022, where Routh was rallying people to join the foreign legion or to help Ukraine through various humanitarian aid organizations.
At the time, Routh gave Newsweek Romania an interview where he said:
“To me a lot of other conflicts are gray, but this conflict is definitely black and white. This is about good versus evil.”
When Cernea met Routh again about a year later, he said, Routh was visibly frustrated that more people had not come to Ukraine’s help.
“Why aren’t there thousands of people here in Kyiv coming to support and join the foreign legion, why aren’t they here?” Cernea remembers him lamenting.
“It’s a very sad story for the whole world, for the US, and for Ryan,” Cernea said.
What we know about the man detained after apparent assassination attempt on Trump Ryan Wesley Routh , a 58-year-old owner of a small construction company, has been detained in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Florida, according to three law enforcement sources.
Here’s what we know about him:
Trump detractor: A frequent Trump critic on social media, Routh posted on X about the assassination attempt on the former president in July, encouraging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to visit those wounded at the rally. “Trump will never do anything,” Routh wrote.North Carolina ties: Routh was registered as an “unaffiliated” voter in the state in 2012. He also voted in North Carolina’s Democratic primary in March of this year, according to public records.Brushes with the law: Routh was arrested in 2002 after being pulled over by police and allegedly putting his hand on a firearm before barricading himself in a business. He was also ordered to pay tens of thousands to plaintiffs in civil suits and has been repeatedly accused by state and federal authorities of failing to pay his taxes on time.Silent when apprehended: Routh stayed silent when detained, according to local state attorney David Aronberg. “It looked like a person who has done this before, not necessarily this crime, but someone who has had repeated interactions with law enforcement,” he told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.Support for Ukraine: Routh expressed support for Ukraine in dozens of X posts in 2022, saying he was willing to die in the fight and that “we need to burn the Kremlin to the ground.” He also visited Ukraine . In a video shot by AFP in Kyiv in 2022, Routh called Putin a “terrorist” and urged people to come fight for Ukraine. Routh also tried to enlist Afghan conscripts to fight in the war, presenting himself as an off-the-books liaison for the Ukrainian government.Views on global politics: In a self-published book , Routh weighed in on the political situations in Afghanistan, Taiwan, and North Korea. He further detailed his support for Ukraine, and said he tried to enlist in the war but was turned away at the Poland-Ukraine border.Affordable-housing builder: Routh said on his LinkedIn page that he started a company in 2018 called Camp Box Honolulu in Hawaii, which builds storage units and tiny houses. A story in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser said he donated a structure for homeless people.Son speaks out: Oran Routh said he hopes everything has “just been blown out of proportion” and it’s not like his father “to do anything crazy, much less violent.” He called his father “a loving and caring father, and honest hardworking man.”This post has been updated with the latest developments.
Ryan Wesley Routh , the 58-year-old man detained Sunday in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Florida, self-published a book last year detailing his efforts to support Ukraine in the war against Russia.
In the 291-page book, Routh described his disillusionment with the war in Ukraine, which he called “unwinnable.”
The book also discussed the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the political situation in Taiwan, which has faced growing military threats from China.
The book, released on Amazon with no publisher listed, is titled: “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War: The Fatal Flaw of Democracy, World Abandonment and the Global Citizen-Taiwan, Afghanistan, North Korea and the end of Humanity.” CNN has not independently verified his accounts in the book.
In it, Routh describes how he had traveled to the Poland-Ukraine border in an effort to enlist in the war — but “at 56 with absolutely no military experience I was reluctantly turned away by the staff” at the border office.
Instead, he tried to enlist more fighters for the war effort — traveling to Kyiv and setting up a makeshift volunteer center at Independence Square before it was disassembled by police. He then “lost all arguments and calls to city hall,” he writes, and spent several months camped out in protest at various locations around the city.
“I had given every ounce of motivation and energy that I could muster for Ukraine and came up empty handed,” he said, describing his unsuccessful attempts to build drones for the Ukrainian army with a team of international engineers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was shocked after hearing about the apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
“Sara and I were shocked by the second assassination attempt against President Trump and were relieved to hear that it too failed. But we should not rely on luck,” he wrote on X .
“We send our best wishes to Donald and Melania along with our hopes that all measures will be taken to ensure that such deadly attacks on a candidate for the US presidency will be foiled in advance.”
Federal agents investigating an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump on Sunday expect a federal court in South Florida will require “a mental health assessment” of Ryan Wesley Routh before any possible criminal proceedings, a law enforcement source told CNN.
Based on numerous “unusual rants” believed to be posted by Routh online regarding international geopolitical events, the source said federal investigators expect his mental health will be examined as part of court proceedings to determine whether he is fit for any trial.
No charges have been filed, but mental health assessments are not uncommon in cases involving threats to federal officials by individuals who may be experiencing mental health issues, the source said. CNN is attempting to determine if Routh has attorney representation.
There’s no political playbook for how to deal with another apparent assassination attempt against a major-party presidential candidate within weeks of an election.
Yet that’s where the rival campaigns now find themselves after what looks like a second attempt to kill Republican nominee Donald Trump in the latest twist to a political season defying precedent and highlighting the nation’s deep polarization.
Twice within two months, America has narrowly avoided seeing a major political figure assassinated during an election season — and the toxic forces that such an outrage could unleash in a country wracked by visceral partisan divides.
That such incidents happen at all speaks to the undercurrent of violence that is a constant shadow over American politics, one that is exacerbated by the easy availability of firearms. Both nominees now address outdoor crowds from behind bulletproof screens. There will now be fresh fears that a tempestuous period running up to Election Day could take the country further down a dark road.
After decades without an assassination attempt against a high-level executive branch official, a haunting reality has been revived this year: those who offer themselves for the highest office are potentially putting their lives on the line.
Read the full analysis.
Former President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked the US Secret Service and other law enforcement officials after an apparent assassination attempt while he was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes - It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE.”
The former president was not harmed in the incident. He had been golfing with donor Steve Witkoff when shots were fired, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The presence of law enforcement outside Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach remains heavy, and the road nearest the apparent assassination attempt was still closed nine hours after the incident, CNN Correspondent Randi Kaye reported from the scene.
Heavily trafficked roads around the golf club are also still closed and there has been a regular stream of police vans going in and out of the gates.
At Summit Boulevard, just in front of the golf club gate, there are a lot of bushes between where the 5th and 6th hole comes together, Kaye said, where perhaps somebody could have poked their way through until they reached the fence.
The person detained in connection with the apparent assassination attempt is Ryan Wesley Routh , according to three law enforcement sources.
“We understand from law enforcement that he was very calm. He wasn’t displaying any emotion,” Kaye said.
Trump International Golf Club abuts three heavily trafficked roads: Kirk Road, Summit Boulevard and Congress Avenue. The Palm Beach International Airport is also nearby.
The man detained in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Florida remained silent when he was apprehended by law enforcement, according to a local state attorney.
“He knew enough to stay silent,” David Aronberg, State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Sunday evening. “He did not apparently speak to officers, he was calm. So, it looked like a person who has done this before, not necessarily this crime, but someone who has had repeated interactions with law enforcement.”
Aronberg did not name the suspect but said he had a “rap sheet.”
The person detained is Ryan Wesley Routh , according to three law enforcement sources.
Aronberg described the apparent assassination attempt as “another too close for comfort incident.” But he also praised the US Secret Service for quickly spotting the alleged shooter and firing shots at him.
“If you’re Secret Service, it really is an act of heroism to see a person with this dangerous weapon poking through the fence. And it was really a great job by Secret Service to fire the first shot,” he said.
Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, who serves on the bipartisan task force investigating the assassination attempt on Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July, said people in Congress are “bewildered why we’re in this situation for a second time.”
“I’m deeply concerned about what’s going on right now. I’m deeply concerned, quite frankly for the former president’s safety. The secret service has lot to explain how an individual able to get yet again in this close to the former president,” Moskowitz told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
He says the protocols and resources committed to the former president “seem to be wholly inadequate,” especially in outdoor environments.
Moskowitz said that, although much remains unknown, the man detained in connection with the apparent assassination attempt on Trump on a golf course should not have been able to obtain a firearm in the state of Florida. He said it should not be ruled out that the man may have brought the weapon into the state.
“I think the American people should be deeply concerned on why a second individual, clearly disturbed, was able to get this close to the former president with a weapon.”
Motorist Daniel Rodriguez told CNN that he and his family were driving back to Orlando on the I-95 interstate from a soccer match when they encountered a “wild scene” as sheriff’s deputies stopped a suspect after an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“We saw multiple officers starting to speed up behind us,” Rodriguez said. “We saw a black Nissan speed up and merge in and out of traffic. We saw a helicopter flying in the air and many more police starting to appear. Then, a state trooper pulled over and stopped the traffic lane.”
Rodriguez said that they initially thought it was an accident.
“It was insane,” Rodriguez said. “A Nissan went blazing right by us, and multiple troopers going at least 90mph passed us, too.”
Rodriguez said they were then stuck in traffic for two hours.
“By the end, I can say there were at least 20 patrol cars behind the Nissan,” Rodriguez said. “We waited patiently until police escorted us out of traffic. I had a pair of binoculars and saw police and several agents pointing rifles at the suspect.”
Former President Donald Trump’s golf game on Sunday was a last-minute addition to his schedule, two sources familiar with the matter said.
Trump had no public events on his schedule for Sunday.
Vice President Kamala Harris said she is “disturbed” and condemns “political violence” after an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Sunday.
“I am deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,” Harris said in a statement released by the White House on Sunday night.
“I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance,” Harris said. “As President Biden said, our Administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission.”
The FBI’s investigation into an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Florida has gone global as officials work to flesh out the background of Ryan Wesley Routh, the individual detained, a law enforcement source tells CNN.
Authorities are working to obtain search warrants on social media accounts believed to be associated with Routh, the source said.
Some of Routh’s suspected online activity also involved using platforms headquartered outside the United States, the source said, which will involve working with international partners to identify everything the FBI possibly can about the detained individual.
The FBI is also aware of Routh’s suspected online claims about foreign travel, the source said, which will be part of the bureau’s investigation.
While early in the investigation, authorities have not identified any co-conspirators potentially targeting Trump, the source said.
Records from North Carolina, dating back a couple decades, show that the man detained in the apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Sunday has had previous scrapes with the law.
In 2002, Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested after he was pulled over by police and allegedly put his hand on a firearm and then drove and barricaded himself in a business, according to a Greensboro News & Record article that year that cited police. Law enforcement confirmed the arrest to CNN on Sunday.
Public records reveal several court cases involving Routh since the 1990s.
State and federal authorities have repeatedly accused him of failing to pay his taxes on time. For example, he faced a federal tax lien in 2008 of about $32,000, according to court records.
In 1998, the state alleged he committed an offense related to a “worthless check,” though that case was dismissed.
Separately, judges have ordered him to pay tens of thousands of dollars to plaintiffs in various civil suits.
Routh’s eldest son, Oran, told CNN via text that Routh was “a loving and caring father, and honest hardworking man.”
The son wrote, “I don’t know what’s happened in Florida, and I hope things have just been blown out of proportion, because from the little I’ve heard it doesn’t sound like the man I know to do anything crazy, much less violent.”
A 58-year-old man detained Sunday in connection with an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Florida is a self-employed affordable housing builder in Hawaii who went on social media to weigh in on politics and current events, at times criticizing the former president.
Ryan Wesley Routh , who authorities suspect was planning to attack the former president as he played a round of golf, posted comments on an X account linked to him referencing the assassination attempt on Trump in July.
Routh tagged President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, in separate posts, encouraging them to visit those injured at the rally.
“You and Biden should visit the injured people in the hospital from the Trump rally and attend the funeral of the murdered fireman. Trump will never do anything for them,” he wrote in a post directed at Harris.
In an April post on X tagging Biden’s presidential account, he wrote Biden’s campaign should be: “called something like KADAF. Keep America democratic and free. Trumps should be MASA …make Americans slaves again master. DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose.”
Ronald Rowe, acting director of the US Secret Service, is traveling to Florida in the wake of the apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, a law enforcement source familiar with the matter told CNN.
The official declined to comment on Rowe’s itinerary.
Rowe has been in the top job at the Secret Service since Kimberly Cheatle resigned in July amid scrutiny over security lapses related to the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Rowe also visited the site of the Butler shooting, and he has testified on Capitol Hill and briefed members of Congress about the investigation into that shooting. Rowe has been asked to brief lawmakers about the Florida incident as well.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his state will conduct “its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination” of former President Donald Trump, his one-time GOP primary opponent, in West Palm Beach.
“The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee,” DeSantis wrote on X.
President Joe Biden commended the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, saying he was “relieved” to hear that Trump was unharmed.
“I have been briefed by my team regarding what federal law enforcement is investigating as a possible assassination attempt of former President Trump today. A suspect is in custody, and I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe. I am relieved that the former President is unharmed,” Biden wrote in the statement.
He also condemned political violence or “any violence” and said that he has directed his team to ensure that the Secret Service has all the resources necessary to protect the former president.
“As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,” he added.
The son of the person detained following the shooting incident on former President Donald Trump’s golf course in Florida on Sunday told CNN that he hopes everything has “just been blown out of proportion” and that it’s not like his father “to do anything crazy, much less violent.”
Oran Routh, son of Ryan Routh, said his father is loving, caring and hardworking.
“Ryan is my father, and I don’t have any comment beyond a character profile of him as a loving and caring father, and honest, hardworking man. I don’t know what’s happened in Florida, and I hope things have just been blown out of proportion, because from the little I’ve heard, it doesn’t sound like the man I know to do anything crazy, much less violent. He’s a good father, and a great man, and I hope you can portray him in an honest light,” Oran Routh said.
CNN reported earlier that officials detained Ryan Routh following the shooting incident on Sunday, according to three law enforcement sources.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday condemned violence against public officials and candidates.
In a post on X , Mayorkas also commended the US Secret Service for “its quick action to preempt this apparent assassination attempt and protect the former President.”
“DHS and the Secret Service are closely working with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to learn all of the facts surrounding this incident. The safety and security of Presidential candidates and other protectees is the highest priority for the Secret Service, ” Mayorkas said.
Former President Donald Trump was at his Trump International Golf Club, between the fifth and sixth holes, when the Secret Service fired on a suspect spotted some distance ahead of the former president on the course.
Here’s where the incident happened:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday he is “very grateful President Trump is safe after another attempted assassination attempt.”
“There is no place for political violence in our country, and those responsible for it must be held to account. I hope and expect (the Secret Service) and the FBI will conduct a thorough, swift, and transparent investigation,” the Kentucky Republican wrote on X .
Former President Donald Trump updated his fundraising website with a defiant message after the security incident.
“FEAR NOT! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God! But, there are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us.I will not stop fighting for you. I will Never Surrender,” the website says.
“I will always love you for supporting me. Through our UNITY we will Make America Great Again.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson met with Donald Trump this afternoon following what the FBI is calling an apparent assassination attempt against the former president in South Florida.
“Kelly and I are departing Mar-a-Lago, where we just spent a few hours with President Trump and are thanking God for protecting him today — once again,” the Louisiana Republican said in a post on X. “No leader is American history has endured more attacks and remained so strong and resilient. He is unstoppable.”
Donald Trump’s campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles updated staff after shots were fired near the former president Sunday, telling them in an email that “safety is always our top priority.”
“This is not a matter that we take lightly. Your safety is always our top priority. We ask that you remain vigilant in your daily comings and goings. Be observant and maintain a constant level of situational awareness. We urge you to always follow direction from law enforcement, including USSS, local police, and office armed security guards,” the email obtained by CNN said.
CNN previously reported that Trump’s campaign office in West Palm Beach, Florida, went into lockdown after the Sunday incident.
LaCivita and Wiles also praised the Secret Service. “President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service,” they said.
Former President Donald Trump said in a second fundraising email Sunday that his “resolve is only stronger” after shots were fired near him at the Trump International Golf Club in South Florida.
“My resolve is only stronger after another attempt on my life!” the email said.
“I will never slow down. I will never give up. I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!”
The FBI “is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination ” of Donald Trump, the agency said Sunday, just two months after an attempt on the former president’s life at a Pennsylvania rally.
The former president is safe after shots were fired at Trump International Golf Club in South Florida on Sunday. Here’s what happened:
Secret Service spots a rifle: A Secret Service agent, who was a number of holes ahead of the former president, spotted a rifle barrel sticking out of a fence and “engaged” with the suspect.Gunshots during golf: Trump was moving between holes five and six at his golf course, the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, with donor Steve Witkoff when gunshots went off. The course was immediately locked down, according to a source familiar.Sheriff alerted: Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said his office was alerted at 1:30 p.m. ET that gunshots were fired by the US Secret Service.Witness spots a man in the bushes: A witness saw the suspect run from the bushes and took a picture of his vehicle that led to the man’s apprehension, according to the Palm Beach County sheriff.Highway gets flooded with police: Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder said his agency “flooded” Interstate 95 and closed a large swath of the highway before eventually safely stopping the suspect’s vehicle and detaining him.Man taken into police custody: The suspect was not armed when law enforcement officials took him out of the car, and he has not made any statements regarding his alleged involvement in the incident, Bradshaw said. According to three law enforcement sources, the person in custody in connection with the incident is Ryan Wesley Routh .Man leaves rifle and belongings in the bushes: Law enforcement officials found an AK-47 style rifle with a scope; two backpacks, which were hung on the fence and had ceramic tile in them; and a GoPro where the suspect was positioned in the bushes.US intelligence officials recently briefed Donald Trump’s campaign about new indications that Iran was planning to escalate attacks on the former president and those around him, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
At this point, there is no indication that the intelligence is related to the apparent second assassination attempt against on Trump on Sunday, the sources said. The intelligence briefing given in recent days related to potential physical and cybersecurity attacks, adding to the overall elevated security threat against Trump.
CNN previously reported that authorities had obtained intelligence about a plot by Iran to assassinate Trump in the weeks before the attempted assassination of the former president at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July . There has been no indication that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin who was shot and killed that day, was connected to the plot.
Separately, the US government has concluded the Iranian government is behind a hack-and-leak operation targeting Trump’s campaign and also attempted to target the Biden-Harris campaign.
The congressional task force investigating the first attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is requesting a briefing with the US Secret Service following the Sunday security incident at Trump’s golf club in Florida.
“We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms. The Task Force will share updates as we learn more,” GOP Rep. Mike Kelly and Democratic Rep. Jason Crow said in a joint statement.
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